'Rachel's Challenge gets schools' and parents' attention

During a week when bullying has again made national headlines, this time involving and West Branch, Mich. student, Cheboygan Area High School students and students from neighboring districts have signed a unified pledge to strive for kindness.

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By Mark Spencley

Cheboygan Daily Tribune - Cheboygan, MI

By Mark Spencley

Posted Sep. 29, 2012 at 11:01 AM
Updated Sep 29, 2012 at 11:04 AM

By Mark Spencley

Posted Sep. 29, 2012 at 11:01 AM
Updated Sep 29, 2012 at 11:04 AM

Cheboygan

During a week when bullying has again made national headlines, this time involving and West Branch, Mich. student, Cheboygan Area High School students and students from neighboring districts have signed a unified pledge to strive for kindness.

"Rachel's Challenge", a nationwide effort to promote kindness and empower students to stand up to bullying, made a stop on Cheboygan on Monday, presenting its message to students, faculty, and community members through a series of productions.

"I think we had around 250 people there (for the community event)," said Alice Fernelius, event supporter and Cheboygan PRIDE advisor. "Several community members signed up to help keep the spirit of kindness going."

Bullying and poor treatment from fellow students results in 160,000 U.S. students skipping school each day. As was witnessed is the case of Whitney Kropp, a 16-year-old Ogemaw Heights students who was voted onto the homecoming court as a cruel prank by a group of fellow students, bullying isn't exclusive to urban areas. Unfortunately, cruelty exists in every pocket of society. Area students and citizens inspired by "Rachel's Challenge" are aiming to change that.

"As the PRIDE adviser and someone who works with students, I think it can really have an impact on the kids and the climate not only in the schools, but also the community," said Fernelius. "I think the concept is simple and doable — we just need to keep the kids excited and I think it will rub off on the adults as well."

During Monday's presentations, students were trained on tactics to help students who are being targeted by verbal and physical attacks.

"That's something we haven't had before," said Michele Ackerman, CAHS principal. "We've always told students to stand up to bullying, but we've never given them methods to do it. These are simple and easy too."

"Friends of Rachel" groups have been formed to help continue to the mission of kindness and promote the message throughout the area, in both the schools and communities.

The foundation for this program was built by the life and actions of Rachel Scott, a 17-year-old killed during the 1999 Columbine High School shooting. A few lines she jotted down days before her death have served as the mission statement for Rachel's Challenge.

"I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the same," she wrote. "People will never know how far a little kindness can go."